Tennis net



Oct. 28, 1924. 1,513,467

W. M. M KENZIE TENNIS NET k,

Filed July 24 1922 Patented Oct. 28, 1924.

WILLIAM M. MAGKEEIZIE,

9F YO'NKEBS, NEW YORK.

TENNIS NET.

Application filed July 24,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. MAO- Knxzrn, a citizen of the United States, residing in Yonkers, county of Westchester, State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Tennis Nets, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improved construction for finishing tennis nets, whereby greater security is obtained together with a greatly improved appearance and increased durability.

The machines used for manufacturing tennis netting are all adapted to the production of a diamond or rhomboidal mesh. Square meshes are used in the accepted forms of tennis nets, that is to say, meshes in which the cords run vertically and horizontally when the net is in position. This is obviously necessary to permit of properly stretching the net without distortion. Consequently the netting must be severed on the bia in cutting out each individual net. This gives a square mesh, but at the same time leaves severed cord ends which ravel and produce an unsightly fringe along the lower edge of the net.

Hitherto it has been customary to bind the lower edge to a longitudinal tension rope by means of a simming or seaming cord, in finishing a tenni net; but the frayed or ravelled ends of cord become loose, and give an unsightly appearance. Moreover, if the sim ming cord becomes accidentally severed at one point it is liable to become progressively loosened along its length, thereby freeing the net from the lower tension rope.

My invention overcomes these objections and does away with the tension rope, producing a finish which is more sightly and durable besides being less subject to shrinkage in case of being wetted.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred form in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is an elevation of a stretched tennis net constructed in the manner common hitherto, Figure 2 is an enlarged view in elevation of a part of the lower edge of the old form of net showing the common mode of attachment to the lower tension rope, Figure 3 is a similar view showin my improved binding partly broken awayfFigure 4 is a sectional View on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, and Figure 5 is a front view on a smaller scale of the bottom of my improved 1922. Serial No. 576,976.

net showing the extension of the binding for purposes of attachment.

In Figure 1 is shown a specimen of the old form of net 10, attached to posts 11, 12 (or equivalent supports) by extensions of the upper tension rope 13 and lower tension rope 14.

A portion of the lower edge of the old form of net is shown in Figure 2. The vertical sides of the meshes are shown at 15, joined by knots 16 in' a well known manner to the horizontal sides 17 Owing to the necessary cutting of the netting (asmade by machinery) on the bias, to produce the square meshes shown, the out ends of the vertical cords are left free, and very soon ravel out as shown at 18.

To secure the lower edge of the net and to provide means for stretching and attaching the net at the bottom, it has been customary to supply a rope 14, to which the lowermost meshes of the out not are secured by a simming cord 19 which extends par allel and in contact-with the rope 14. This cord is given two half hitches around the lowermost horizontal cords 17 at each point of junction with a vertical cord 15. This is clearly shown in Figure 2. Of course, if the simming cord 19 should become accidentally severed, it would become loose at one knot after the other, thus partly releasing the net from the rope '14. This effect would be accelerated by the shaking and the blows constantly received by the net in the course of P y- In my improved binding, the rope 14 is dispensed with, and a firm canvass (or similar cloth) tape is doubled lengthwise and applied to the lower edge of the net, as shown in Figures 3 and4 at 20.

' In Figure 3, a portion of the tape is broken away to show the exposed and unbound condition of the net. On the right hand side of Figure 3 the dotted lines show how the lowermost horizontal mesh cord 17 lies at the bottom of a long pocket or channel formed by the middle bend in the tape 20, the sides of which are brought together and united throughout the entire length of stitching 21. The ravelled ends 18 are snugly bound against the cord 17 being entirely concealed by the tape 20. These features are also brought out in Figure 4, which is a sec tional view on the line 44 in Figure 3.

As shown in Figure 5, the ends of the doubled tape 20, beyond the ends of the net are extended, as at 22 and 23 to form means of the net and extended sufficiently to pro-- for fastening the net to side posts in any vide fastening means for the lower part oi? desired manner. This tape 20 is made of the net, said tape having its two sides closely Woven and slightly absorbent matebrought together and stitched near their rial, and its tendency to shrink when Wetted edges, so as to conceal the mesh cords, their 15 is much less than that of the rope 14 comknots, and the ravelled ends of the severed monly used. cords.

What I claim is In testimony whereof I have hereto set my In a tennis net, a tape longitudinally foldhand on this 21st day of July, 1922. 10 ed along and over the lowermost mesh cords W, M, MA KENZIE, 

